Photo: Steve Junkin
CONCORD, N.H. (Feb. 21, 2025) – The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (Forest Society) is honored to celebrate Wendy Weisiger, managing forester at the Forest Society, as Forester of the Year awarded by the Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters (GSDSAF). The award is presented annually to a New Hampshire forester for excellence in their field and recognizes the achievements of individuals who advance the knowledge and understanding of forestry.
“Though the award has ‘...of the Year’ in its title, those selected for this honor invariably have a long record of effort, service, and accomplishments,” states Connor Breton, Chair of the Granite State Division SAF and forester with the NH Division of Forests and Lands. “These are people who whole-heartedly give and work to the benefit of New Hampshire's lands, wildlife, and greater forest communities. These are people who lead by example and who show or teach others the good that forestry can do in the places they love. Wendy is highly deserving of the award for these reasons and for many others.”
Weisiger’s accomplishments include receiving the New England SAF Mollie Beattie Young Forester Leadership Award in 2016. She has previously served the Granite State Division SAF as Chair to the Executive Committee and she currently serves on the executive board of New England SAF. She has advanced the forestry profession through her roles on many boards and committees, including serving on the UNH Forestry Advisory Board, NH Agricultural Experiment Station Advisory Committee, and chairing the NH Project Learning Tree board. She is part of the Women in the Woods team, a partnership with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, NHTOA, and the Forest Society, educating women landowners with resources, skills, and a network of professionals to help them make informed stewardship decisions for healthy, sustainable land management.
"It's an honor to be recognized by my peers,” states Weisiger. “It means so much that my work has made such a positive impression upon a group of truly talented and knowledgeable professionals, and I feel very grateful to be a part of the New Hampshire forestry community."
"Wendy has an undeniable strength in cultivating and maintaining strong relationships across the New England Forestry community,” states Gabe Roxby, Natural Resources Conservation Service State Forester with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. “She knows just about everyone and is involved in so many groups where she consistently serves as a strong voice and advocate for sustainable forestry. She is a selfless and loyal friend and colleague, always thinking of others. She has been a driving force behind the Forest Society's outreach and education on forestry through active timber harvest tours and provides so many learning opportunities for students of all ages. No matter the effort, she is always involved and looking to contribute in a meaningful way."
In her role at the Forest Society, Weisiger oversees a team of foresters who implement sustainable forestry practices across 200 properties comprising 66,000 acres owned by the Forest Society. These lands are open to public access and are managed for sustainable forestry, recreation, water quality, wildlife habitat, and climate resiliency. Her team works with consulting forester colleagues across the state to implement this important forestry and habitat work statewide.
"It's been a privilege working side by side with Wendy for the past twenty years at the Forest Society,” states Jack Savage, president of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. “She richly deserves being honored for her work."
“While working with the Forest Society, I've had many opportunities to get involved and work with talented foresters across the state. It makes me proud to be a part of a uniting force within the community of New Hampshire forestry," adds Weisiger.
"We're on the brink of a climate crisis and more and more the public are focusing their attention on our forests both as a place of refuge, and for their important role in helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Foresters have a big role to play in providing a pragmatic and scientific approach to address and improve climate resiliency. I'm looking forward to continuing the Forest Society's work in keeping New Hampshire’s working forests resilient and healthy now and in the future.”
The Society of American Foresters is an educational and scientific non-profit organization that was founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot and is the largest organization of professional foresters in the world. Part of SAF's mission is to advance technology, science, education and the practice of forestry, and to ensure the continued use and health of forest resources to benefit society. The Granite State Division represents NH as part of the New England regional chapter of SAF.